Supreme Court warns of tougher stand on firecracker enforcement

The Supreme Court said on October 29 that it was not inclined to impose a complete firecracker ban in Delhi-NCR, while warning authorities that weak enforcement could lead it to take a harsher position. The bench stressed that existing restrictions must be enforced on the ground and said it would issue a balanced order. The judges asked what action authorities had taken after the Court’s October 2025 relaxation allowing green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR for a limited period. The amicus curiae said no comprehensive implementation report had been filed, and Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told the Court enforcement data had not been placed before it. Bhati said the Central Pollution Control Board had filed air-quality data and that authorities would file an affidavit. The Court urged officials to focus on permitted firecracker-use days, send officers to check for violations and take action such as issuing challans, cancelling licences and filing cases. It also called for public-awareness efforts through television and print campaigns, and suggested involving prominent figures, including cricketer Virat Kohli. The judges also raised educating children about celebrating...